Deccan Chargers defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets in an IPL T20 match played at Newlands on Sunday (April 19). The star performer of the match was fast bowler RP Singh of Deccan Chargers who took four wickets by conceding only 22 runs. Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Kolkata Knight Riders were able to garner only 101 runs by losing all the wickets. Deccan Chargers achieved the victory target in 13.1 overs with Herschelle Gibbs and Rohit Sharma remaining not out on 43 and 36 runs respectively.

 

All the top batsmen of Knight Riders including skipper Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle and Saurav Ganguly failed miserably. Only Brad Hodge of Australia played a handy innings for the Knight Riders which helped the team to cross the 100-run mark. Hodge scored 31 before falling to a stunning reflex catch by Gibbs at backward point off Scott Styris.

 

Apart from RP Singh, West Indian fast bowler Fidel Edwards and Scott Styris also played their part in restricting Kolkata Knight Riders to low total. Styris claimed two for 37 and Indian left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha took two for 14 in his four overs. Chasing the petty total of 102 runs, Adam Gilchrist and Gibbs gave Deccan a brilliant start, putting on 24 in 2.5 overs. After the departure of Gilchrist, came in VVS Laxman who could score only 10 runs before being run out. After that, Gibbs and Sharma accomplished the rest of the work.